Act 4 is the play’s heaviest act — 1,142 lines across 3 scenes, against a play-wide average of about 672 lines per act, with 12 speaking characters.
Opens (Scene 2) — Polixenes: “I pray thee, good Camillo, be no more importunate:”
Closes (Scene 4) — Autolycus: “them: there may be matter in it.”
The 3 scenes of Act 4
Who speaks in Act 4
Leading voice: Autolycus with 24% of Act 4’s dialogue (273 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Autolycus ♂ | 273 | 23.9% |
| Florizel ♂ | 168 | 14.7% |
| Camillo ♂ | 146 | 12.8% |
| Polixenes ♂ | 134 | 11.7% |
| Perdita ♀ | 121 | 10.6% |
| Clown ♂ | 116 | 10.2% |
| Shepherd ♂ | 82 | 7.2% |
Characters first heard in Act 4
| Character | Lines in play |
|---|---|
| Autolycus ♂ | 294 |
| Florizel ♂ | 206 |
| Perdita ♀ | 131 |
| Time ♀ | 33 |
| Mopsa ♀ | 20 |
| Dorcas ♀ | 12 |
Pacing across the 3 scenes
Scene lengths in Act 4 range from Scene 2 (54 lines, the shortest) to Scene 4 (929 lines, the longest), averaging about 381 lines per scene.
Who carries the voice in Act 4
Act 4 reflects the play’s overall balance — 16% female dialogue (play average: 23%).
Act 4
Male 956 · Female 186
How Act 4 of Winter's Tale compares to other romances
| Play | Act 4 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Winter's Tale (this act) | 1,142 | 3 |
| Cymbeline | 634 | 4 |
| Pericles, Prince of Tyre | 612 | 6 |
| The Tempest | 287 | 1 |
About Act 4 of Winter's Tale
How many lines are in Act 4 of Winter’s Tale?
1,142 lines spread across 3 scenes.
Who dominates Act 4?
Autolycus delivers 24% of the act’s dialogue (273 lines).
Which scene is the heaviest in Act 4?
Scene 4, at 929 lines — well above the act’s scene average.